When a photographer told Heitkamp's husband to drop his hands to his side, Biden somehow thought this was a good thing to say to nobody in particular: "Spread your legs. You're going to be frisked."

"You say that to somebody in North Dakota, they think it's a frisk," he added.

Here's the footage:

Heitkamp, a moderate Democrat who is more conservative than most of her party when it comes to guns, energy, health care, and gay rights, scored a very narrow and surprising victory over Republican Rick Berg in November (Even Nate Silver pegged the race incorrectly). She's replacing Kent Conrad, a longtime Democratic Senator who retired.

After the awkward photo-op was through, Biden gushed about her.

"I think she's incredible. I can hardly wait to work with her," he told the Huffington Post. "You know why? She and I both speak plain English."